The 2025 Sérgio Vieira de Mello Polish Prize – a gallery full of emotion and inspiration
Another extraordinary edition of the Sérgio Vieira de Mello Polish Prize is behind us. Since 2003, the Villa Decius Association has been honouring individuals and organizations who work for dialogue, understanding, and the peaceful coexistence of societies, religions, and cultures.
This year’s award ceremony, held on 23 October 2025 at Villa Decius in Kraków, brought together representatives of diplomacy, culture, academia, international organizations, and public institutions. It was a day filled with reflection, gratitude, and emotion – in the spirit of the values represented by Sérgio Vieira de Mello, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Laureates 2025
This year, the Prize Committee honoured two exceptional women:
Ece Temelkuran – Turkish writer, thinker, and public intellectual whose voice carries a message of courage, compassion, and solidarity in times of moral crisis.
Truth Hounds – a Ukrainian organization documenting war crimes and seeking justice for victims of armed conflict, represented by Oksana Pokalchuk.
Their words deeply moved the audience:
“Being human is not a biological condition, it is a moral choice,” said Ece Temelkuran.
“Behind every statistic there is a human life. And that life matters,” reminded Oksana Pokalchuk.
Guests and participants
Among those present were:
Dominika Kasprowicz – Director of the Villa Decius Association
Henryk Woźniakowski – Chair of the Prize Committee
Leandro Zenni Estevao – Minister Counsellor, Embassy of the Federative Republic of Brazil in Poland
Robert Piaskowski – Director of the National Centre for Culture
Ewelina Pytel – Plenipotentiary of the Mayor of Kraków for Equality Policy
Ulrika Grufman – Counsellor, Embassy of Sweden in Poland
Jan Sobczak – First Counsellor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland
Ece Temelkuran and Oksana Pokalchuk – the 2025 laureates
The ceremony was followed by a discussion panel moderated by Michał Olszewski, with simultaneous interpretation by Piotr Krasnowolski and Xymena Plater-Zyberk, and a formal lunch in the Villa Decius Fireplace Hall – a true space for dialogue beyond borders.
The idea and significance
The Sérgio Vieira de Mello Prize reminds us that human rights, dialogue, and solidarity are not just words but commitments to the future.
Each year, Villa Decius becomes a meeting place for people from different countries and cultures, confirming that empathy and courage can change the world.
Acknowledgements
The Villa Decius Association extends heartfelt thanks to all guests, partners, and media supporting the idea of the Prize.
Special thanks go to our sponsors and patrons:
Sponsors: City of Kraków, Grupa ZUE, Kraków Airport
Media Partners: TVP3 Kraków, TVP Info, Radio Kraków, Gazeta Wyborcza, Rzeczpospolita, Kraków.pl
We invite you to browse our photo gallery from this year’s ceremony – moments filled with emotion, inspiration, and meaningful encounters.
